Factors influencing patient satisfaction when undergoing endoscopic procedures

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Patient Experience Research

Background:

• Limited data exists on optimal methods and timing for assessing patient satisfaction after endoscopic procedures.
• Understanding patient satisfaction is crucial for improving healthcare quality and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key factors influencing patient satisfaction with endoscopy.
• To determine if patient satisfaction scores correlate with assessments conducted at a later date post-procedure.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary academic hospital.
• Patients undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or colonoscopy completed pre- and post-procedure questionnaires.
• A third follow-up questionnaire was administered via telephone or mail at least one week after the procedure.

Main Results:

• High initial satisfaction (86.6%) was reported, positively associated with provider manner, technical skills, and communication.
• Increased pain or discomfort correlated with lower satisfaction.
• Follow-up assessments at a mean of 39 days showed decreased satisfaction (P = .03) and increased recall of pain (P = 0.01) compared to immediate post-procedure assessments.

Conclusions:

• Provider interaction, technical skill, and the physical environment significantly impact endoscopy patient satisfaction.
• Initial high satisfaction may be influenced by procedural sedation and immediate survey timing.
• Patient satisfaction tends to decrease over time, potentially due to recall bias, indicating a need for delayed assessments in future studies.